Dina Hendrika (van Zuilekom) Kroeze 1843-1915

Dina Hendrika van Zuilekom was born in Laren, Gelderland, Netherlands on Saturday, February 25, 1843 to Garret Willem van Zuilekum/Zuilekom and Janna Schutte. Dina had a little brother who was still born on May 21, 1847.

A story that has been passed down is that Dina Hendrika, as a child or young person, was given an award or medal from the queen of Holland. The queen during this time frame would have been Queen Sophie wife of King William III who reigned from March 17, 1849 – November 23, 1890. Queen Sophie died on June 3, 1877.

Dina, age 24, married Hermanus Martin Kroeze, 28, on Thursday, November 28, 1867 in Borne, Overijssel, Netherlands.

The newlyweds lived in Almelo, Overijssel, Netherlands "in the house standing in district three". Hermannus was employed as a weaver. Beginning in the latter part of the 19th century, Almelo employed many in the textile industry. Their oldest daughter, Berendina was born in Almelo on May 14, 1868. She died there at age 2 months and 27 days on August 10, 1868. Their second daughter, Berendina "Dina" Hendrika also called "Della", was born on November 21, 1869 in Almelo. She died in Kansas at the age of 16. Their third daughter, Janna "Anna" Kroeze was born Jan. 7, 1872 in Borne, Overijssel, Netherlands.

On May 16, 1874 the Kroeze family (Hermanus, wife Dina, daughters Dina, 4, and Janna, 2) left Rotterdam, Netherlands on the W A Scholten and arrived in the Port of New York on June 1, 1874. They first lived in Holland, Nebraska, near Firth. A baby boy named Ben (born about 1874) is buried there. They may have lived in a cave for a period, while in Nebraska. Two sons, Ben and John were born in Holland, Nebraska (1876 and 1878). In the spring of 1879, the family moved from Nebraska to Kansas. From March 26, 1879 to about June 1, 1879 the family lived in wagon while building their sod house. The sod house was about 12 x 32 ft. They also built a horse and cow stable, hog pens and dug a well. Children Martha, Ella and Henry were born in Luctor, Phillips County, Kansas. When daughter Ella was born on September 28, 1884, Dina made a place on the floor behind the cook stove and there alone delivered Ella. Hermanus was working in the Colorado mines and didn't hear about Ella's birth until she was 2 months old.

In 1904: "While milking a cow in the pasture Sunday morning, Mrs. H. Kroeze received quite a shock. A bolt of lightening struck the cow killing her instantly, and the animal fell toward Mrs. Kroeze who barely had time to get out of the way. The shock to the lady was quite severe but as we have learned so far, not dangerous. - Prairie View News." Oberlin Herald (Oberlin, Kansas) Sept 1, 1904, Thursday, Pg 5.

Dina died in Prairie View, Phillips County, Kansas on Wednesday, October 13, 1915 at the age of 72.

On February 14, 1989, Dina's grandson Harold described his memories of going to Phillips County, Kansas after the death his Grandma Kroeze when Harold was four years and 10 months old. He and his mother Ella took the train from Western Kansas. He recalled being at Aunt Martha's house early in the morning and asking to see Grandma Kroeze. She wasn't in a casket yet, but on a couch without a back. Aunt Martha pulled a sheet off of Grandma Kroeze's face and he remembered his mother Ella reaching down and giving her mother Dina a love pat and he saw his mother lift her apron to wipe tears from her eyes. This was his only memory of his Grandma Kroeze, but he believes he probably had seen her before this.